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Friday, January 6, 2017

Books Read in 2016

Every year since getting pregnant with Mac, I set a goal for myself on Goodreads to read one book a month. ONE. That's 12 books total for the year, for all you math geniuses like myself out there, counting along on your fingers. Want to take a guess at how many of the last 5 years I've reached that goal? If you guessed a big fat ZERO, then you'd be correct. Not one single year. This English major used to read about a book a week, so it kills me to say that. But all that changed this past year!

2016 was a big year for me. It was the first year in a long long time that I felt like my former self again, now that I've emerged from those first couple post-baby sleep-deprived hormone-raging years. I traveled, I spent time with friends, I started running again. It was also the year that I discovered how much I really like audiobooks. While I'll always love the smell of paper and the feel of turning your own pages, but I cannot deny how much I love the convenience of audiobooks. I don't know how I ever managed to go this long in life without them.

I listen in the car on my way to and from work, on long runs and while working out, in the evening while I'm editing photos and working on the computer, while I'm getting ready in the morning, while grocery shopping. I love that they let me multi-task and get other things done at the same time. Double win. I still listen to my favorite podcasts too, but audiobooks have dominated my attention these days. I ended up "reading" (mostly listening to) 42 books last year! FORTY-TWO!

I've printed the full list below and noted a few of my favorites (and disappointments), but if you want my full review (or want to see what I'm reading now), follow me on Goodreads. You might notice I have an affinity for WW2/Holocaust books - I can't get enough of them, so if you have a recommendation for a good one, please send it my way! And if you have questions about any book in particular, ask in the comments!

Total books read: 42Best book: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrWorst book: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey NiffeneggerFeel good book: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanBiggest disappointment:White Teeth by Zadie SmithBiggest surprise like: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingsolverBest biography:Unbroken by Laura HillenbrandBest thriller: No One Knows by J.T. EllisonToughest read: A Little Life by Hanya YanagiharaMost fun to read:Wonder by R.J. PalacioWish I liked more: The Underground Railroad by Colson WhiteheadWish it would never end: The Book Thief by Markus ZusakWish it would've ended a bit sooner:The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (but loved it)Easy beach read: Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria SempleBest rainy day read: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

SO impressive!!!! When we lived in Edwardsville and I worked in Fenton (holy commute!) I used to listen to audio books all the time. But the number of books I've read SINCE then is embarrassing! Happy New Year, friend!!

So impressive!! My mom has raved about A Man Called Ove. She loved the movie too. This year I've had fun reading some kid classics with my boys. We read Because of Winn Dixie, The Indian in the Cupboard, Turtle in Paradise, and The Fourteenth Goldfish (blah for me but the guys liked it). It's been fun rediscovering books with them. Now they are on a Hardy Boys binge with Chris.

Love WWII books too. Some suggestions for you:Charlotte Grey - Sebastian Faulkes The Reader Bernhard SclinkA Little Love Song - Michelle MagorianThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne The Zookeepers Wife - Diane AckermanMy goal this year is to read 100 books - no children and a 2 hour train commute are on my side plus i'm a very fast reader! Love reading and glad to have some suggestions from your list!

I've read a lot of these! Zachary's class is going to be reading Number The Stars soon. I'm pretty sure I read it when I was in school but I think I should read it again! I read Wonder when Gabbie's class read it!

Forty-two books is pretty dang impressive! You bookworm. So many of these on your list I have never read before. Adding some of these to my goodreads now! My commute each day is pretty short, but I do wait an hour in the car every afternoon (school pick up line). I need to fill that time with reading or listening to a book rather than scrolling through social media.

So I just logged into Bloglovin and looked at blogs for this first time in months. How fun to find this post from you! I love annual book review posts and miss writing one! You read some great books this year! I have a few of the same titles still on my to-read list. I don't know if I can pick a favorite 2016 read - really loved Ready Player One and Homegoing.

So happy to hear you got your groove back in 2016 - hope 2017 is even better!